Astra J VXR: What I Learned After 6 Months of Ownership 

Quality video. Keep them coming!!

Good vid as usual mate was a good watch deffo up there with one of my favourite j’s

great car you have mate great channel i think they should put fog lights in the front bumper thanks for your video

Good video! I've had my 2015 VXR for about 6 months too, so far had to replace the MAF sensor and spark plugs (77k on the clock) so not too bad (yet, haha). I'm hoping to get an induction kit but they aren't cheap in Australia!

Great video mate, you mention the handbrake. Shouldn't need to realese it as it's automatic so realeses on its own when you drive off.

Servicing these cars is the key to a good one. Have known cars serviced at main dealers have issues. One main dealer blamed steering judder after service and new brakes on suspension mounts but the garage had messed up fitting new brakes. Paint issue colour match can be caused when panels are painted or repainted as plastic panels can have static causing paint issues. I had a similar colour issue after crash repair on a GM car so had car bumper repainted and blown into the door which is what the repairer should have done. The repairer and Direct Line Insurance did it at their expense once I threatened legal action as the colour wasn't correct. I looked at the VXR but bought a VW group car instead with full service history. The seats in your car are similar to Civic type R and recent A45 cars so why change them? Regular coolant and oil changes as well as brake fluid changes should keep you car running fine. Cold start revs like so many owners do on cold engines in McDonalds car parks will lead to expensive headaches down the road.

VXRs are notorious for thin paint, I have the same issue on my OPC, bonnet has a lot of small scuffs from road debree, front bumper was repainted at the dealer because of that. Another thing that is bad, the front under bumper rubber protection fittings. The fitting for that is very cheap plastic, I bumped that protection to a not so high sidewalk when parking and the whole thing ripped from the bumper not just the rubber protection. My 2013 also doesn't have Xenon headlamps, as far as I know they put these and back lights with LED starting 2014-2015 plate. My car has 65000km (40k miles or so) , Airtec intercooler kit, RSS intake and it pulls 333bhp and 560Nm on dyno with stage 2 tune. But key here is to run with good oil and change it every 8000km (5000 miles). Also, I do change oil in transmission every 2 motor oil changes. I have downpipe de-catted , secondary pipe with cat from Malian Exhausts, next upgrade would be Scorpion resonated cat back system.

Good vid mate, mines is 2015 and air front ducts are not fake on mine

@H19XNS have you found any options for replacement gear knobs out there? Doesnt look to be a lot to work with...

Just bought a vxr and the dealer thrown an air tec induction kit in, anyone had any running issues with these on ? Lumpy running or throwing up warning lights on the dash ? Cheers

I have a 2013 OPC, BiXenon forward adaptive lighting is standard (trust me, you do not need foglights) , as well as dual climate control and heated front seats standard.Also approved by the German Orthopedic Society. It is high performance car so obviously the Brembo brakes are going to be costly to replace. I mean if you review a M3 for instance, obviously parts are going to be more costly than those of a Starlit or a Picanto's.....🤷‍♂️

air con pipe went on my husbands insignia vxr, garage said its a common thing on them. I'm looking to trade in my car for a GTC vxr

Just a quick question are your front lights as bad as mine? There like someone's holding a candle 🕯 in there 🤣 could you recommend any new ones??

Quality video and insightful, much appreciated lad. Only had mine 2 week and loving it. Question regarding the Maxton diffuser, will you be rocking it or no?

Just bought a white 2014 and worried sick after watching this! I hate things going wrong with my cars 😞😂

The gear box’s in these is the f40 gearbox same as what’s in the vectra vxr It must be a common problem for the 2gear as that’s the problem I have in vectra vxr

One other costly item you may have missed is the handle behind the front seats to move the seats forward... if tge handle or the tether breaks it becomes very expensive... may as well buy new seats. Can't wait to buy mine back though

My mate got a 2013 VXR he had it from new it got 125000 mile on it he says he never had a problems with engine or gearbox but his car his standard

Hey mate, did you work out what the issue was with your air con? Mine has isn't working either! I've noticed a few others mention they have no air con. Just wondering if it's a comment problem. Ta

Not sure how true this is but after the 2013 models they fixed the piston issue. Sure i seen/heard it in another vid about mk6 vxr.

Hi mate quick question. Have you known these engines to have trouble with timing chains?

Sort of things give you that turbo noise?! Everything I’ve tried throws codes

1:37 the m32 on the h Astra’s was known as the chocolate box in the trade due to shit bearings just melting away….

These do not suffer from Piston 4

Those canards 😅 what the…